Shona McMillan's Page

Hometown:

Edinburgh

Relationship Status:

In a Relationship

About Me:

I am a fiddle player, singer, artist and freelance photo-journalist. I have built my career in tourism and the management of cultural projects. I really enjoy this type of work and in 2006, I set up the project which is now known as People and Songs of the Sea. For this in 2009, I produced a touring exhibition of 250+ educational/photographic displays travelling to 14 venues along the Firth of Forth coast. My free exhibitions have now been seen by over 10,000 visitors. These exhibitions are drawn from my studies over 2006-9, where I gathered 500 old photos and took 4,000 photos of fisher folk at work and in community events. In addition, I have released a compilation album People and Songs of the Sea in association with Greentrax recordings. The album features 21 tracks by Celtic music's finest artists and tells the story of Scotland's fishing (and the herring route from Ireland, to Scotland, to England). To illustrate the story behind the songs on the album, the CD's accompanying booklet is in full-colour with over 30 photos. My interest and personal ambition to do this project was born through my family connections to fishing. My great-grandfather and grandfather were Fisherrow Harbour Masters, my great-granny was a fishwife who carried the creel and my granny sang in Fisherrow Fishwives Choir, a fine singer like my mum Jean Thorburn. My mum's stories inspired me to celebrate the heritage of the fishing industry and its community. I am delighted so many people have come to visit my exhibitions and that, People and Songs of the Sea is Liveireland's 2010 Compendium Album of the Year!
The album can be purchased by contacting http://www.greentrax.com.

Website:

http://www.myspace.com/shona_m_mcmillan

Favorite Music:

Scottish, Irish, Cape Breton Traditional music

Currently Reading? (Books Magazines etc)

East Lothian Life Magazine and Living Tradition Magazine

Favourite Place?

Kinlochbervie/East Lothian/Galway